ABSTRACT
THE old Chūnagon’s illness gradually became more severe, and the Taishō in his sympathy and sorrow had many incantations performed and prayers offered.
‘Why is it?’ said the old Chūnagon to the Kita no Kata of the Taishō. ‘Now, I have nothing more that I desire in this world and so now I have no fear of death. Why then do you have all these prayers said for me? The time is fast approaching when I must die,’ he went on for he realised that he was becoming feebler. ‘If there is any reason why I should wish to live a little longer, it could only be because of the inferiority of my rank. I feel it a disgrace that I have been outstripped by many nobles but recently very junior to me. If I lived but a little while longer, I should be promoted through the all-powerful influence of the Taishō to the office of Dainagon. If I were to die now, it would be said of me that I was predestined never to rise to that high rank. That is all I desire now, to rise to that rank. No one in the world could have a greater honour than I, if only I died a Dainagon.’
